Alcoholic Energy Drink Leads to Tragic Tampa Bay Crash

When you drive drunk, you put yourself in danger. As well, passengers in your car are at risk to an accident because of your actions. In addition, the people who share the road with you are also in peril of a life-altering, or life-taking, accident. Sadly, sometimes the innocent men and women on the road are the ones who suffer from your poor decision. One Tampa Bay resident learned this truth the hard way, when he killed an entire family by getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. The driver, a man with the initials D.J., ran a red light and crashed into a vehicle carrying a family of four. A father was at the wheel of the targeted car, and his three sons were along for the ride. This incident happened in 2010, but D.J.'s trial is still ongoing.

During his time in court, D.J. pleaded guilty to four counts of vehicular homicide. His declaration that he is guilty of the deaths of these four individuals is part of a plea bargain organized by his attorneys. According to records of the incident, D.J. told police that he was sipping an energy drink called Four Loko while he was driving that fatal night. Four Loko is a malted liquor, alcoholic, energy drink that contains 12 percent alcohol. Not only was D.J. drinking a Four Loko while in operating a car, which is illegal according to open container laws, but he had mixed extra liquor into the can.

When tested, D.J. produced a BAC of .154. That is almost twice the legal limit. Now, he faces 44 years to life in prison because of his actions.